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Cornell University


Fraternity Leaders Are The Heaviest Drinkers

The study found that fraternity leaders reported the highest rates of binge drinking and adverse consequences, including hangovers, arguments, and blackouts. Greek leaders also tend to view alcohol as a facilitator for social interaction and sexuality, contrary to expected moderate views.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol·DateDec 15, 1997

Got Milk Ads Are Working Well, Ag Economist Says

A Cornell University study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics found that dairy advertising efforts significantly increased fluid milk sales, retail cheese prices, and wholesale cheese prices. The study also revealed that dairy farmers receive a substantial return on investment for their marketing efforts.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Applied Economics·DateDec 10, 1997

Enterotoxemia Type D Vaccination Of Lambs

Researchers found that ewes' antibodies are passed to lambs through colostrum, making vaccination unnecessary until past the age of 6 weeks. This schedule change can save time and energy for farmers, with significant benefits for national agriculture.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Animal Science·DateDec 9, 1997

Biodiversity Worth $2.9 Trillion

A new study by Cornell University estimates that biodiversity provides $2.9 trillion in economic and environmental benefits globally. In the United States alone, the value is estimated at $319 billion. The research highlights the importance of preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem integrity for human well-being.

SourceCornell University·JournalBioScience·DateDec 5, 1997

Natural Variability Is Key To River Restoration

A six-university panel of river experts suggests that restoring a river's natural flow regime is crucial for maintaining ecological integrity. By allowing rivers to repair and maintain themselves, scientists can enhance different portions of the flow regime through changes to dams and water-use operations.

SourceCornell University·JournalBioScience·DateDec 5, 1997

Cornell To Build NASA Airborne Infrared Camera

FORCAST, a new infrared camera, will be built at Cornell to image the universe in the infrared spectrum and study stars' neonatal environments. The instrument will fly aboard NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and make observations that are impossible for ground-based telescopes.

Race And Class Intelligence Gaps Groups Narrowed

A new study published in American Psychologist found that racial differences in intelligence narrowed by about half between 1970 and 1988 and have remained constant since then. Socio-economic class differences also decreased gradually since 1932, with IQ scores converging between the upper and lower thirds.

SourceCornell University·JournalAmerican Psychologist·DateNov 7, 1997

Cornell Rover To Land On Mars In 2001

The Mars 2001 Lander mission aims to investigate the geological record of ancient Martian waterways and possible biology. Cornell's Athena rover will use its integrated scientific instruments to collect data on the planet's surface, including an imager, infrared spectrometer, and Alpha-Proton-X-Ray spectrometer.

Sensors To Measure Tsunamis In Real Time

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a network of instruments to predict and track tsunamis in real-time. The sensors will be placed on the ocean floor in strategic parts of the Pacific rim, including south of the Aleutian Islands chain and along coastal areas of Asia.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateOct 23, 1997

$10 Million Grant To Reduce Earthquake Losses

Cornell University has received a $10 million grant from the National Science Foundation to support research in earthquake loss reduction. The funding will focus on developing advanced technologies to predict and mitigate earthquake damage, with an emphasis on improving emergency response systems.

"Male-Stuffing" Conserves Food In Wasp Nests

Researchers at Cornell University discovered a unique behavior in paper wasps called 'male-stuffing,' where females aggressively force males into empty nest cells to limit their food consumption. This behavior may maximize worker wasps' inclusive fitness and contribute to the colony's fitness.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateOct 1, 1997

Pharmaceuticals Manufactured In Insect Larvae

Researchers have discovered a way to harness valuable proteins from nearly dead insect pests, producing high-quality pharmaceuticals in a more cost-effective manner. The HeRD system enables the mass production of these proteins, paving the way for the development of novel vaccine treatments and alternative pesticides.

SourceCornell University·JournalEntomophaga·DateSep 25, 1997

Pea Plant Stem Growth Gene Cloned

Researchers have successfully cloned a key gene responsible for pea stem growth, which codes for an enzyme that converts gibberellic acid into the compound promoting stem elongation. This discovery sheds light on why some plants are tall and others short, illustrating fundamental principles of genetics.

SourceCornell University·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateSep 3, 1997

Hubble Telescope Finds Vesta Crater

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a large crater on asteroid Vesta with an estimated diameter of 285 miles and 8 miles deep. The crater's impact debris is believed to be a source of special types of meteorites, including those found in Hawaii.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateSep 3, 1997

Violence Workbook'S Success Depends On Teachers

A recent study found that children using the 'Let's Talk About Living in a World With Violence' workbook became less aggressive when their teachers were comfortable with the curriculum and integrated it into other subjects. Children whose teachers did not integrate the material showed no significant differences in aggression.

GRE Fails To Predict Grad School Success

A recent study published at Cornell University found that Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not a reliable predictor of graduate school success. The researchers analyzed data from over 10,000 students who took the GRE and compared their scores with their post-graduation outcomes.

World's Smallest Silicon Mechanical Devices

Researchers at Cornell University have developed the world's smallest silicon mechanical devices, measuring just a few nanometers in size. These devices can be used for various applications, including modulating light signals for fiber optic communications and measuring tiny forces.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Vacuum Science and Technology·DateJul 24, 1997

It Takes A Full Day To Raise Two Kids

Researchers found that parents with two children spend an average of 57,661 hours raising their kids to age 18, exceeding the previously estimated 7.25 hours a day. This includes primary child care and secondary child care activities. The study also revealed that mothers spend more time on primary child care than fathers.

Blizzard Snow Loads And Building Codes

A study by Cornell University researchers found that most buildings in the Northeast region exceeded minimum building code requirements for snow loads during the Blizzard of '96. The accumulation of snow from two storms led to increased snow weight on roofs, causing collapses in some areas.

Kids Near Airports Don't Read As Well

Research at Cornell University found that children in noisy schools near airports perform worse in reading skills compared to those in quiet areas. The study suggests that kids tune out speech amidst constant background noise, making it difficult for them to acquire speech recognition skills.

Colors Composed By Brain, Not Eyes

Cornell University psychologist Romi Nijhawan's experiment shows that the brain can decompose yellow into its constituent red and green based on motion of the stimulus. Human retinas cannot sense motion on their own, but the brain uses a process called motion extrapolation to correct for this delay.

New Green Revolution: Adding Micronutrients

The Cornell University scientists are leading an effort to develop agricultural systems that explicitly improve human health. The new approach, known as a 'food systems' approach, aims to increase the availability of micronutrients like iron in staple crops, reducing illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.

Plants Need Vitamin C, Too

A new study by Cornell University researchers reveals that plants require vitamin C to withstand environmental stresses, such as high ozone levels and ultraviolet radiation. This finding has significant implications for improving crop foods with low vitamin C content, which can help address nutritional deficiencies in humans.

Cornell Ornithologist Lauds Use Of Volunteers

Cornell ornithologist Andre Dhondt highlights the importance of involving volunteers in scientific research and education. He notes that thousands of school children and teachers contribute valuable data to projects like Project FeederWatch and Classroom FeederWatch, helping scientists answer real-world questions.

'BirdSource' Website For Citizen-Science Data

The BirdSource website enables citizens to share their bird-watching observations, creating a comprehensive database of North American bird distribution, migratory pathways, and population trends. This initiative leverages citizen-science data from programs like FeederWatch and the Christmas Bird Counts.

Once-Helpful Social Rules Now Cause Dysfunction

A study by Cornell University biologist Stephen T. Emlen found that evolutionary predispositions, such as helping closely related kin, can lead to conflict and violence in modern families. The biologist suggests that increasing awareness of these inherited behaviors can help minimize damage in stepfamily situations.

Gold: Life On Mars May Still Exist

Microbial subsurface life is likely to be found on Mars and other planetary bodies in our solar system. The theory proposes that life evolved from the inside out, using rocks for oxygen, and suggests that petroleum has come up from great depths, not from biological sediments.